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Walking the Walk
      A special editorial by Margaret Morris

>> Since 1961, Dottie Walker has called Jones County her home. It wasn’t long after that time that she and her husband Jerry bought the local pharmacy known as Gray Drug Company to satisfy the pharmaceutical needs of Jones County residents. “Prior to opening the store, people came to us expressing a need to have medications available when they needed them,” states Dottie. “At that time driving all the way to Macon for something like this was a big deal.” (46205-01)

Dottie and Jerry were the perfect team. He was the pharmacist, and she managed the store until one day in August 1995. It was then that Dottie’s life changed dramatically as Jerry was tragically killed. Although losing him was very difficult, Dottie stresses, “You must go on and live each day as you did before.” And she has persisted with great concern for the county and its residents. As a charter member and the first chairperson of the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce and the treasurer of the Development Authority, she helped to mold Gray and Jones County into the thriving place it is today. Dottie still serves in this capacity on the Development Authority championing their mission to bring in new industry to the area. 

“As one of the founding members of the Jones County/Gray  Chamber of Commerce, Dottie is well-thought of in the community and truly understands the role of being a mentor to other people and businesses,” summarizes William  Matthews, executive director, Jones County/Gray Chamber of Com-merce and the Development Authority. “She is one of those people that you can count on 100 percent any time you need it.” Dottie received the Business Person of the Year from the Chamber in 2002. She has also been a long-time supporter of Relay for Life. 

>> Dottie Walker showcases one of her latest collections at her pharmacy and gift shop. <<

                             

Compelled to answer the needs of individuals in her community, Dottie plays a major role in Tri-County EMC’s Operation Roundup program serving as a director of the Foundation since 2003, and as vice chairman since of June. She also aids the educational interests of local residents as a board member of Central Georgia Technical College.

Dottie stays in close contact with her daughter Leigh Anne Skinner, who does the buying for the gift section of the family-owned store. The mother-daughter team opened the gift area in 1999. “She has a niche for finding the latest sellers,” says Dottie. Leigh Anne lives with her husband and two children: Walker Shearon-17 and Chandler-13, in Marietta.  

At this time, Dottie anticipates opening a new pharmacy on the Hwy 18 connector. Con-struction should begin soon. “We’re excited. Everything is sitting on go,” states Walker. “I enjoy the atmosphere of working in Gray. You know something your about customers. They are not just a name and number. These days, there are so many questions regarding the price of medications and insurance. It’s important for people to trust in pharmacists.”
 
“Dottie is a tremendous asset to Jones County,” states Greg Mullis, vice president of Energy Services, Tri-County EMC and chairman of the Jones County Development Authority. “Her dedication to the Development Authority is very apparent. She not only cares deeply about the place she calls home, but she does something about it by getting involved and being part of the solution in a growing community with complex challenges.”  <<